Container closure flap arrangement



A il 13, 1965 R. E. HENNEFENT CONTAINER CLOSURE FLAP ARRANGEMENT Filed Dec. 11, 1963 United States Patent 3,178,395 CQNTAINER CLOSURE FLAP ARRANGEMENT Rex E. Hennefent, Hazelcrest, Ili., assiguor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, ilL, a corporation of Delaware Filled Dec. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 329,736 Claims. (Cl. 229-37) This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to a securing arrangement for the closure flaps of a tubular, paperboard shipping container. The invention comprehends a novel and inexpensive way to protect the contents of a container and/or render it substantially siftproof.

As it is well known to those familiar with the packaging art, the so-called regular slotted shipping containers formed of corrugated or solid fibre paperboard are generally of tubular construction and include a plurality of side walls hingedly interconnected to form the tube and end closure flaps hinged to the ends thereof and adapted to be folded over at right angles to the side walls in overlapped relationship with each other to close the ends of the container.

In containers of this type the inside end closure flaps can be dimensioned so that their free edges meet at the center line of the container. It is virtually impossible, of course, to so form the flaps that their adjacent free edges will abut in such a manner as to provide a sift-proof joint therebetween. On the contrary, there is normally a slight crack between the adjacent edges of the inside closure flaps, and this crack or space between the meeting edges of the inside closure flaps is undesirable in containers used for the shipment of certain products.

In the case of bulk shipment of granular particles, the space between the edges aifords an opportunity for certain of the particles to sift out of the bottom wall of the container. Also, if granular particles are packaged within an inner bag the constant rubbing of the bottom of the bag on the raw edges of the inside closure flaps tends to Wear away the bag and in some cases causes the bag to rupture spilling the contents into the shipping container itself. Further, there is always the possibility that articles of other types may be damaged by constant rubbing on the raw edges of the inner closure flaps.

These objections can be overcome, of course, by providing an additional liner or pad which covers the entire floor of the container. However, this is expensive as it requires an appreciable amount of board to form a liner of suflicient size. Further, unless the liner is adhesively secured to the upper end closure flaps at the top of the container it will not serve its purpose when the position of the container is reversed or turned over during shipment.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide, in a shipping container of the type described, a simple and inexpensive means of covering and/or sealing the joint between the inside closure flaps at the end of a tubular container.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in a container ofthe type described, of a strip of adhesive tape secured to the inside surface and projecting beyond the free inboard edge of one of a pair of inner end closure flaps so as to overlie and/ or be adhesively secured to the adjacent marginal portion of the inside surface of the opposing inner closure flap. J

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from an examination of'the following description and drawings, wherein; r 1

FIGURE 1 is aperspective'view ofa shipping container having an end closure arrangement embodying features of the invention:

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating the applica- 3,l?,5 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 tion of the protective tape to one of the inner end closure flaps of the container illustrated in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the container illustrated in FIGURE 1 may be formed.

It will be understood that, for purpose of clarity, certain elements have been intentionally omitted from certain views where they are believed to be illustrated to better advantage in other views.

Referring'now to the drawing for a better understanding of the invention, it will be seen that the shipping container C, shown in erected condition in FIGURE 1, may be formed from the unitary blank B of foldable paperboard illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The blank includes a first pair of side wall panels 10 and 12 and second pair of side wall panels 14 and 16 which are hingedly interconnected at their side edges and serially arranged to form a tubular construction when the end most side panels 10 and 1'6 are interconnected in any desired manner, such as by means of a corner tape or a glue flap 16 hinged to one side wall panel and adhesively secured to or stitched to the adjacent side wall panel at a corner of the container.

Closure of the top and bottom ends of the tubular structure is afforded a first pair of outer closure flaps 2t! and 22, respectively, and a second pair of inner closure flaps 24 and 26, respectively, which are hingedly attached to the end edgesof the opposed pairs of side wall panels. Although the novel closure arrangement embodied in this invention is concerned primarily with the bottom wall of a shipping container, inasmuch as a shipping container can be tipped upside down many times during its transportation, it is often desirable to provide the closure arrangement for both ends of the container.

In order to describe the invention, however, reference will be made only to the bottom wall of the container, it being understood that the same arrangement can be applied to the top wall. Referring again to FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be seen that when the blank B is formed there is applied to the free edge of one inner end closure flap 24 a relatively narrow elongated strip of material such as adhesive tape 30. The tape is applied so that one half of it is adhesively secured to the panel 24 with the other half 32, which is unwetted in the case of a gummed tape or in the case of a plain tape to which no adhesive has been applied, projecting outwardly from the free edge of the panel 24. The tape may be either applied'in flat form, as shown in FIGURE 3, or folded double, as shown in FIGURE 2; in the case where it is applied in folded over or doubled condition it is, of course, necessary to fold the unattached portion of the tape in a clockwise direction, as shown in FIGURE 2, so that the tape is flat, as shown in FIGURE 1, at the time the box is closed, filled and sealed.

Thus, it will be seen that when the container is erected inner closure flap 24 having the tape secured thereto is the first flap to be folded into the carton. After this has been done inner closure flap 26 is folded into position so that its marginal edge of its inner surface rest on the exposed portion of the adhesive tape attached to the flap 24.

If pressure sensitive adhesive tape is employed there is no need for any further action other than to fold the flaps into position and apply pressure. After this has been done the outer flaps arefolded into position and may be glued or stitched as desired.

If desired the tape employed may be ordinary shipping tape used in the wrapping of packages and which, like a gumrned label, must be wetted before it becomes adhesive. If tape of this type is used it may be folded overto the position shown in FIGURE 2 with the underside being wetted and applied to flap 24. After this has been done and after the carton has been erected to the position shown in FIGURE 1 the remaining portion of the tape may be wetted and the other inner closure flap may be. folded down into position so as to adhere to the free portion of v the tape projecting from the other inner closure flap. The

outer closure flaps maythen be secured in the conventional manner. This may be done with both ends of the carton if desired or ifthe carton is never to be turned from its original position it may' only'have to be done'to the bottom wall of the carton. Also, it will be understood that where the tape is used merely to prevent rubbing of a packaged article on the raw edges of the inner closure flaps, rather than to render the container sift-proof, the

free half of the tape need only overlie the other inner closure flap, and need not be adhesively secured to it.

Thus, it will be seen by this novel arrangement a simple and inexpensive means is provided for protection the inside contents of a shipping container and/or making its end closure walls sift-proof.

I claim:

1. A one-piece, paperboard blank adapted to be formed into a tubular container closed at one end when in erected condition, comprising:

(a) opposed pairs of side wall panels hingedly interbeing substantially equal to the width ofya side wall panel of said one pair, so that when the end closure flaps are folded at right angles to the side wall panels, when thecontainer is in erected condition, the free inboard edges of the inner closurejflaps will meet' 7 intermediate said other pair of side Wall panels to close the end ofthe container;

(e) one of said inner end closure flaps having secured to its inner surface along the entire length of its free inboard edge a strip of adhesive tape which projects outboardly beyond said one inner end closure panel to overlie and be adhesively secured to an adjacent fedge portion of the inner surface of the other inner end closu re flap to completely cover and seal the space between the adjacent inboard edges of said inner end closure'flaps.

' 2. A one-piece, paperboard blank adapted to be formed into a tubular container closed at one end when inerected condition, comprising: p I i (a) opposed pairs of sidewall panels hingedly interconnected at their side edges and serially arranged to form a, tubular structure 'when the side wall panels.

at the ends of the blank are joined together;

(b) a pair of outer end closure flaps hingedly connected to corresponding endedges of respective side wall panels of one pair; Y

the other pair; a

to its inner surface along' the entire length'of its free finboard edge a strip of adhesive tape which projects outboardly beyond said one inner end closure panel tooverlie andbe adhesively secured to anladjacent v edgeportion of theinner surface of the other inneri end closure'flap to completely cover and seal the space between" the adjacent inboard edges ofsaid inner end closure flaps. v

j (c) a pairof inner end closure flaps hingedly connected 1 to corresponding end edges of the sidewall panels of 3. A one-piece, paperboardblank adapted to be formed into a tubular container closed at one end when in erected condition, comprising: I

(a) opposed pairs of side wall panels hingedly interconnected at their side edgesand serially arranged V to its inner surface alongthe entire length of its free inboard edge a strip of tape which projects outboardly beyond said one inner end closure panel to overlie and be adhesively secured to an adjacent edge portion of the inner surface of the other inner end closure flap to completely cover and seal the space between theadjacent inboard edges of said inner end'closure flaps.

4. A one-piece, paperboard blank adapted to be formed 'into a tubular container closed at one end when in erected condition, comprising: 7

(a) opposed pairs of side wall panels hingedly interconnected at their side edges. and serially arranged to form a tubular structure when the side wall panels 7 at the ends of the blankare joined together;

(b) a pair of outerqend closure flaps hingedly connected to corresponding end edges of respective side wall panels of one pair;

' (c) a pair of: inner end closure flaps hingedly connected to corresponding end edges of the side wall 7 panels of the other pair; (d) one of said inner end closure flaps having secured to its inner surface along the entire length of its'fr ee I inboard edge a strip of tape which projects outboardly 1 beyond said, one inner end closure panel to overlie an adjacent edge portion'of'the inner surface of the other inner end c'losureflaprto completely coverthe space between the adjacent inboard edges of said inner end closure flaps. v s 5. A one-piece, paperboard blank adapted to be formed into, a tubular container closed at one end when in erected condition, comprising: I 1 (a) oppose'd pairs of side wall panels hingedly interconnected at their side edges and serially arranged V T at the ends of the blank are joined together;

(b) a pair; of inner end closure flaps hingedly con- 7 nected to corresponding end edges of the side wall panels of one pair;- l :(c) one of said inner end closure flaps having secured to' itslinner surface along the entire length of its free inboard edge a strip oftape which projects outboardly beyond said one inner-end'closure panel to overlie an other inner end closure. flap to completely cover the space between the adjacent inboard edges of said inner end closure flaps. w

1 References Cited by the Examiner UN E T T S A TS! 893,652 17/0 8 Reberf 229- 37 X; 1,299,683, 4/19. Crowell.1. z i 2,063,999 12/36 Harrison i 229*45 GEORGEO. RALLSTON, Primary xaminer;

V to forma tubular structure whenth'e' side wallpanels adjacent edge portion of'the inner surface of the 

1. A ONE-PIECE, PAPERBOARD BLANK ADAPTED TO BE FORMED INTO A TUBULAR CONTAINER CLOSED AT ONE END WHEN IN ERECTED CONDITION, COMPRISING: (A) OPPOSED PAIRS OF SIDE WALL PANELS HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTED AT THEIR SIDE EDGESS AND SERIALLY ARRANGED TO FORM A TUBULAR STRUCTURE WHEN THE SIDE WALL PANELS AT THE ENDS OF THE BLANK ARE JOINED TOGETHER; (B) A PAIR OF OUTER END CLOSURE FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO CORRESPONDING END EDGES OF RESPECTIVE SIDE WALL PANELS OF ONE PAIR; (C) A PAIR OF INNER END CLOSURE FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO CORRESPONDING END EDGES OF THE SIDE WALL PANELS OF THE OTHER PAIR; 